The imbroglio began last Sunday, when Lochte claimed (to Today’s Billy Bush) that he and three fellow U.S. swimmers were robbed by bandits posing as Brazilian police officers, one of whom pressed a gun to Lochte’s forehead and took his wallet.

Days later, it was discovered that the swimmers had not been robbed, but had vandalized a Rio gas station and, during a confrontation with a security guard holding a gun, were asked to pay for the damage.

Lochte issued an apology on Instagram Friday, noting that he should have been “more careful and candid” in how he described the events. Meanwhile, Rio Olympics spokesman Mario Andrada has said that Lochte and his teammates do not need to apologize for the incident: “We have to understand that these kids came here to have fun. Let’s give these kids a break. Sometimes you make decisions that you later regret. They had fun, they made a mistake, life goes on.”